Insulating protector



June 30, 1964 SWANSON 3,139,481

INSULATING PROTECTOR Filed April 27, 1961 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR.

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June 1954 A. F. SWANSON 3,139,481

INSULATING PROTECTOR Filed April 2'7, 1961 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR.

Jun 0, 1 4 A. F. SWANSON 3,139,481

INSULATING PROTECTOR Filed April 27, 1961 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR.

United States Patent 3,139,481 INSULATING PROTEiITOR.

Arthur F. Swanson, fiyeamore, IIL, assignor to Ideal Industries, Inc, Sycamore, IBL, a corporation of Delaware Filed Apr. 27, 1961, Ser. No. 105,996 6 Claims. (til. 174-138) This invention is in the field of insulating protectors or insulators and is concerned with an insulator or cover including a cap made of an insulating material, such as neoprene, plastic or the like, which is easy to apply and may be used to cover a joint'or connection between a number of wires. 1

A primary object of the invention is a cap-type insulator including a flexible strap and means for interlocking the strap and cap.

Another object is a cap insulator of the type described which is easy to apply and which will not come loose.

Another object is a cap insulator including means for adjustably positioning the strap relative to the cap the position of the strap relative to the cap being determined by the number of wires or conductors in the connector. 7

FIGURE 4 is a perspective, similar to FIGURE 1, of

a modification;

FIGURE 5 is a side view of the insulator of FIGURE 4, with a portion broken away;

FIGURE 6 is a top view of FIGURE 5; FIGURE 7 is a further modification;

FIGURE 8 is a section taken along line 8-8 of FIGURE 7;

FIGURE 9' is a section like FIGURE 8 but of a modification;

FIGURE IO is a section like FIGURES 8 and 9 of a further modification;

FIGURE 11 is a section like FIGURES 8, 9 and 10 of a further modification;

FIGURE 12 is a plan view of a further modified form;

FIGURE 13 is a plan view of an additional variation;

, FIGURE 14 is a side view of a further modified form; and

FIGURE 15 is an additional variation.

FIGURES 1 through 3 illustrate a form of joint insulator or connector including a main cap or cover member 10 which includes an upper body 12 and a lower skirt 14, the sections 12 and 14 being joined by a some 14, extends laterally from the cover member and is generally disposed more or less at right angles to the axis of the cap or cover. Preferably, the strap 26 is aligned with the lower edge of the skirt, however, it may be slightly oifset or slightly raised from the bottom of the skirt.

The strap 26 may include, at its outer end, a retainer member indicated generally at 28. The retainer may include an outer gripping surface or portion 30 and a portion 32 which provides the'body of the retainer. Between the retainer 28 and the cover member there is an enlarged opening 34. I may provide a rib or bead 36 which may extend both up and down, as viewed in FIGURE 2, from the main portion of the strap to reinforce or support that portion of the strap bounding the opening. That portion of the bead adjacent the retainer, indicated at 38, may provide a surface which is adapted to fit in the groove 20, as shown in FIGURE 1, to provide an interlock between the strap and the cap or cover. In certain applications, I do not need a rib or lip at 33, and, in any event, it does not have to be straight but could be curved, wavy, or any suitable shape or formation.

The strap 26 may be slightly tapered or reduced in width as it runs from the skirt toward the opening 34. For example, roughly midway between the retainer and the cap or cover, the strap may reach its smallest width, somewhat beyond the beginning of the opening 34. From there on, the width of the strap may generally increase to form an opposite taper which ends somewhere adjacent the beginning of the retainer member 28. Although I have described a strap that has two tapered portions, this is not necessary, and the strap may only have one taper or it may be somewhat rectangular. In fact, the strap 26 could be wider than the diameter of cap 10. In any event, the strap is flexible so that it may be pulled between the conductors, indicated at 40 in FIGURE 1, to close the bottom of the connector. Note that in FIGURE 1 the portion 38 fits in the slot 20 in such a manner that the slot holds the retainer firmly in place on the cap or cover and, therefore, firmly holds the strap in position.

A connector of this type is intended for use with combinations of electric wires. The strap must have flexibility so that when it is pulled between the wires it will deform sufficiently toallow the opening 34 to pass over a portion of the cover and allow the edge 38 to be positioned in the slot 24).

FIGURES 4 through 6 show a modified form in which the main cap or cover is indicated generally at 59. The cover 5% is made up of'a main body portion 52 and 1 possibly a somewhat enlarged skirt.54. The junction what flared junction or the like 16, although it might angle, or it might have a curvilinear cross section. I

mayprovide an inwardly directed shoulder 24 or the like on the inside of the cover member generally at the junction between the main body and the skirt, if desired.

A strap 26, which preferably is integral with the skirt between the skirt and main body portion may be flared, as at 56, or it could be straight or any suitable configuration. I may provide an inwardly directed shoulder 58 or the like generally adjacent the junction 56, but it is not necessary.

Adjacent the top of the body portion 52 is a bracket 60 or the like which may have upstanding side walls 62 and a bottom wall 64 shown as generally perpendicular to the axis of the cap. The bottom wall 64 includes an opening or interlock 66 which is. used to hold the retainer portion of the strap to the cover.

Integral with and extending outwardly from the bottom of the skirt 54 is a strap 68 which may be severely tapered from a width approximating or on the order of that of the skirt down to a somewhat smaller width, indicated at 70. As mentioned in the form of FIGURES 1 through 3, the strap is not limited to the tapered form shown in the drawings. The retainer portion of the strap may include a plurality of sections 72, shown as frustoconic, but they might be triangular or circular, sepaa plurality of somewhat blunt shoulders or surfaces 80 which bound the larger end of the sections 72. The surfaces 80 are locking surfaces as will appear hereinafter.

In FIGURE 7, I show a top .view of a further modification in which the cap 82 has a ledge or projection 84 extending therefrom on the side opposite the strap 86. It will be noted that the ledge or projection has an opening shaped like a keyhole to receive the strap, meaning with an enlarged portion 88 joined to a somewhat narrower slot 90. The diameter of the enlarged portion 88 may be on the order of or slightly greater than the diameter'of the enlargements on the strap so that after the strap is passed between the wires and brought up to the projection or ledge, the enlargement will slide through the enlarged opening 88 quite easily and then the strap can be pulled over with one of the narrow portionsof the strap sitting in the narrow key portion 90. While I have shown the keyhole slot with'the enlarged opening outward or away from the cap, it should be understood that it might be reversed.

FIGURE 8 is a section along line8--8 of FIGURE 7 and shows that the enlargement has a generally circular cross section, as at 92, whereas FIGURES 9, 10 and 11 show various cross sections, as at 94, 96 and 98, respectively. Instead of the circle, hexagon, triangle and square shown, it should be understood that the enlargements may have any suitable cross section, such as an ellipse or any polygonal sided figure. While I prefer that all of the enlargements, be it two, three or otherwise, along the strap have the same cross section, it should be understood that a combination could be used; for example, the first enlargement could be round, the second square, the third a hexagon, and so forth.

In FIGURE 12, I have shown a variant form of the strap in which the enlargements .100 are circular in cross section but appear somewhat oblong in plan.. As distinguished from the previous forms, this form does not have a blunt shoulder and will work perfectly well with any of the previous ledges or projections, for example the onein FIGURES or in FIGURE 7.

In FIGURE 13, I have shown a further variation in which the ledge or projection 102 has four slots 104 leading to a center enlarged opening 106. It should be understood that I may use two slots on each side of the center opening with the slots disposed to each side or as inner and outer slots. Or I might use all four in unusual circumstances. Any of the previous strap forms, such as in FIGURES 7 through 12, might be used with the FIGURE 13 ledge.

In FIGURE 14, I have shown a further modification in which the ledge 108, instead of being at or next to the top of the cap, is disposed about half way down and extends from one side thereof, and it should be understood that the ledge can be at any suitable elevation or position along the cap.

For example, in FIGURE I show the ledge 110 positioned almost directly opposite the strap fairly close to the bottom and it should be understood that it may be directly on the bottom of the cap, if desired.

In the FIGURES 14 and 15 forms of the ledge, I may use any type of opening, keyhole or otherwise, through the ledge and any of the previously disclosed strap forms.

The use, operation and function of the invention are as follows:

I have provided a cap-type insulator which may be made of a suitable insulating material, for example neoprene, vinyl, or some other flexible material. A strap is preferably integrally formed with the lower edge of a skirt on the main body portion. The strap includes a retainer or the like adjacent its outer end which cooperates with an interlock on the cap or cover so that after the cap has been slipped over a connection made between the stripped ends of a group of wires, the strap may be pulled between the wires and interlocked with the top of the cap. An important feature of this invention is the interlock between the cap and strap whereby the strap is snugly held between the wires and cannot come loose and open up the bottom of the connection.

In prior US. Patent Re. 23,649, issued April 21, 1953, the retaining member was in the form. of a second cap, somewhat smaller than the main cap. The present arrangement is simpler to mold and provides a securer and more easily applied interlock.

In the use of the connector shown in FIGURES 1 through 3, after the wires have been inserted in the main body portion and connected together, the strap is bent across the bottom of the cap. The gripping area 30 may conveniently be grasped to pull the strap around and then to pull the strap up along the side of the cover until the edge 38 is positioned in slot 20. At this point a portion of the cover will extend through the opening 34, as appears in FIGURE 1. The slot 20 is ettective to hold the strap to the cap. If the strap is stretched in order to place the edge 38 in the slot 20, the strap will be under a small amount of tension which willhelp to hold the edge in the slot.

In the FIGURES 4 through 6 form, in order to effect the interlock and so hold the strap to the cap cover after the wires have been suitably connected, the extension 76 may be grasped and the strap bent across the bottom of the capl The strap is pulled up along the side and the extension is thrust through the opening 66. An upward pull on the extension 76 will then pull the sections 72 through the opening. In effect, I provide one or more enlargements 72, regardless of their precise shape. In its free state, the opening 66 is smaller than the largest part of the sections. However, as the material forming the insulator may be flexible, the sections 72 can be drawn through the op'ening'66. Each of the sections may provide a somewhat blunt surface 80 which will be seated upon the fiat surface 64 and form an interlock therewith.

There are a plurality of sections 72, in this case three, so that the strap may be pulled through the opening 66 to different extents. This will take into account difi'erent wire or conductor sizes which-may be'us'ed with the 'insulator.

The particular wire or conductor connection and how it is made is not important to the invention. It might be made by merely twisting the wires together, as in US. Patent Re. 23,649, or it might be made by a spring or coil, as in US. Patent 2,885,771. It also might be made by sleeves slipped 'over the wires and-crimped against them as in Us. Patent 2,810,897. Also, 'theslot 20 does not have to-be on a diameter or, for that matter, straight since it might be arcuate.

The same is true of the various forms shown in FIG- URES 7 through 15, and it should be understood that the advantages of the' FIGURES 4through6 form apply as well tothe various forms shown in FIGURES 7 through 15. In addition, each form in FIGURES 7 through 15 has its own particular advantages. For example, in the various forms which use a keyhole type slot in the ledge, a somewhat tighter or more secure interlock can be a0.- quired, for the same effort to make a connection. Positioning the ledge closer to the open end of the cap, as in FIGURES 14 and 15, in certain types of applications can have distinct advantages, for example, ease of application.

In all of the forms described, I have shown the strap as integrally connected to the cap. But itshould be understood that I might make the strap a separate part with an enlarged-opening therein to be passed down over the top of the cover member and abutting at the bottom against some sort of retaining means, for example an outstanding flange or a series of abutments or the like on the cap. However, for ease of application, simplicity of molding, and to avoid having a number of separate pieces to be lost, I prefer that the insulator be molded as one integral piece.

Whereas the preferred form and several modifications of my invention have been shown and described herein, it should be realized that there are many additional modifications, changes, substitutions and alterations thereto within the scope of the following claims.

I claim:

1. An insulating protector for covering a joint made between the stripped ends of two or more electrical conductors, including an insulated cover member to be fitted over the joint, a strap connected to and extending from the cover member and adapted to be passed between the conductors when the cover member is fitted over the joint, an interlock on the cover member, said interlock having a ledge projecting from the side of the cover member opposite the side where the strap is connected, an opening through the ledge, and a plurality of enlargements toward the end of the strap adapted to pass through the opening and the ledge when the strap has been pulled between the conductors and passed up through the opening.

2. An insulating protector for covering a joint made between the stripped ends of two or more electrical conductors, including an insulating cover member to be fitted over the joint, an interlocking slot on said cover member generally centrally located in the top of said cover member and undercut along both sides, a strap extending from the cover member and adapted to be passed between the conductors when the cover member is fitted over the joint, said strap including a retainer member and an opening adjacent said retainer member, the edge of said retainer member adjacent said opening adapted for positioning in said slot and a portion of said cover member adapted for positioning in said opening.

3. An insulating protector for covering a joint made between the stripped ends of two or more electrical conductors including an insulating cover member to be fitted over the joint, a strap extending from the cover member and adapted to be passed between the conductors when the cover member is fitted over the joint, a laterally extending bracket having a somewhat flat surface, an opening in said surface, the end portion of said strap having a tapered retainer with the small end of said retainer positioned to pass through said opening first, the larger end of said tapered retainer being bounded by a somewhat radial interlocking surface, and said interlocking surface being positioned against said fiat surface when said retainer has been passed through said opening.

4. An insulating protector for covering a joint made be tween the stripped ends of two or more electrical conductors including an insulated cover member, an open bottom in said cover member adapted to be fitted down over the joint, a strap connected to and extending from the cover member, said strap adapted to be passed across the open bottom between the conductors when the cover member is fitted over the joint an interlock on the cover member, and a plurality of spaced enlargements on the strap spaced somewhat from the cover member, said enlargements adapted to co-operate with the interlock and the cover member.

5. An insulating protector for covering a joint made between the stripped ends of two or more electrical conductors including an insulating cap to be fitted over the joint, a strap extending from the cap and adapted to be passed between the conductors when the cap is fitted over the joint, means for holding the strap between said conductors including means defining an opening along the side of said cap, said strap having an end portion positioned to be passed through said opening, and means for adjustably positioning said strap and said opening.

6. An insulating protector for covering a joint made between the stripped ends of two or more electrical conductors, including an insulating cap to be fitted over the joint, said cap having continuous side walls and an end wall, a strap extending from the side walls and adapted to be passed between the conductors when the cap is fitted over the joint, an interlocking groove on said cap, an opening in the strap, the opening at least partially defined by an edge, and said edge adapted to engage said groove to form an interlock.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,361,506 Smith Oct. 31, 1944 2,838,768 Fischett June 17, 1958 2,956,109 Greco Oct. 11, 1960 FOREIGN PATENTS 201,703 Great Britain Aug. 9, 1923 

6. AN INSULATING PROTECTOR FOR COVERING A JOINT MADE BETWEEN THE STRIPPED ENDS OF TWO OR MORE ELECTRICAL CONDUCTORS, INCLUDING AN INSULATING CAP TO BE FITTED OVER THE JOINT SAID CAP AHVING CONTINUOUS SIDE WALLS AND AN END WALL, A STRAP EXTENDING FROM THE SIDE WALLS AND ADAPTED TO BE PASSED BETWEEN THE CONDUCTORS WHEN THE CAP IS FITTED OVER THE JOINT, AN INTERLOCKING GROOVE ON SAID CAP, AN OPENING IN THE STRAP, THE OPENING AT LEAST PARTIALLY DEFINED BY AN EDGE, AND SAID EDGE ADAPTED TO ENGAGE SAID GROOVE TO FORM AN INTERLOCK. 